Milo swung high. The chains creaked. He looked down and saw a girl sitting alone by the slide.
Her knees were pulled to her chest. The swings next to her stayed still. She had not moved all morning.
Milo hopped off the swing. He marched to the toy box and grabbed three things: a bouncy ball, a red truck, and a crinkly paper kite.
He held them out to the girl, but she shook her head. Then she pointed to the empty swing beside her.
Milo sat down on the swing. He pushed himself forward — whoosh — the chains creaked, but she didn't smile.
Milo bounced the ball toward her. But it rolled straight into a bush. She watched it go with a frown.
Milo picked up the red truck and rolled it across the ground. She pushed it away and it bumped into a post with a hollow thunk.
Milo's shoulders dropped. He tried the kite, holding it up to the wind, but she shook her head again. The kite fluttered to the ground.
Milo knelt by the fence. He noticed a bright yellow dandelion growing through a crack. He gently pulled it free.
He held it out to the girl. The soft petals caught the warm sunlight, and she took the flower with a small smile.
Milo sat down beside her. The swing next to him creaked a little, then stopped.
The girl reached over and took Milo's hand. Her fingers were small and warm, and together they swung until their toes almost touched the ground.